As the commotion settles, theparty searches the area and finds a small packet of dust of dryness in Zarmina's torn shroud.
Aaqir al’Hakam comes over, a frwon upon his face. His features soften as he gets to you. "Well done Pathfinders! I cannot fathom what has caused this unseemly turn of events, but your quick actions saved the guest." Reaching into his vest, he hands you a small parcel. "Take this as a token of thanks. While I look into this, I ask that you patrol the manor and grounds while I send the guests to their lodgings, until we can get to the bottom of this."
al'Hakam gave you a scroll of cure moderate wounds, a scroll of endure elements, a scroll of see invisibility, and a bead of force.
Rapunzel yawns loudly as the adrenaline of battle wears off. "Honestly, I'm feeling quite fatigued after all that." She looks over to Arovandean, "Got anything in those bottles for something like that?"
As the guests are escorted to their rooms and you patrol the grounds and manor, all is calm and you find nothing that might lead you any answers.
A short time later, you receive two separate notes, one form Pellius and one from Jakti.
Note from Pellius:
My prospective partners,
I see you have taken to Temel Passad’s charm and wealth as much as I. It is true that I have a contract with the Five Kings Mountains—a very successful one, at that—but my network of contacts would go to waste were I not to pursue other ventures. With additional capital, I could expand my business threefold, selling quality arms from Lake Encarthan all the way to Katapesh!
It’s clear that you’re close to Aaqir al’Hakam, and he’s hardly the sort who would want to miss out on an opportunity to invest in such a promising business. He’s been too busy to speak with me during my visit, but perhaps you might convince him to extend an audience and discuss terms.
A pleasure,
Pellius Melkior
Note from Jakti:
I would appreciate your meeting me in the temple at your convenience, though try not to delay too long. Something strange is afoot.
– Jakti
Male Elf Slayer 4 | AC 20 T 14 FF 16 | HP 48/48 | F +5 R +8 W +4 | Init +9 | Perc +11 | Surge 9/9 | Reroll : Not Used
More keen on tracking something down than hob-nobbing with the merchants (perhaps should not be in Sczarni/The Exchange?), Loenor offers to go see what Jakti needs. Any wishing to come with are welcome to.
The party heads to the temple to find out why Jakti wants to speak with you. As you enter, he looks up and nods. "I was uncertain if you were trustworthy enough to share this information with, but now I see that you are most competent individuals and I believe you can help." He looks around, then fixes you with a stare.
“Some days ago I received information from… a trusted source… that a someone has hired several assassins in Katheer for a job this very night. This manor has one of the greatest gatherings of powerful people in the entire city, so I can only conclude that these assassins are meant to strike here. With that knowledge, I hired a few bodyguards for myself, but it would allay my fears if I to have your protection as well. Of course, you may seek to protect everyone in the manor, and I would applaud you for such commitment to righteousness! I will be satisfied if no harm comes to my person before this night is over, whatever the circumstances. Do this for me, and I would greatly consider dealing with such competent individuals in the near future.”
Sense Motive DC 25:
Jakti appears to have other interests beyond his own protection, and he seems to know more than he lets on.
Just as Jakti finishes speaking, a series of loud crashes echoes through the house, followed by screaming. Jakti’s eyes widen in alarm as he rushes to the temple’s doors only to discover that the entry hall teeming with the walking dead!
This chase is a little different in that everyone can roll a check and we take the highest roll with any other above ten counting as aids.
Note in the lower left hand corner that high tier DC are +3
Aaqir al’Hakam emerges from one of the upstairs hallways and calls down to you, say “protect the guests,” though he stresses the last word as if to imply one of the other critical guests. The breaking of glass elsewhere in the manor suggests there are far more zombies than just those in the entry hall.
A quick note on the mechanics: In place of attempting an aid another action, a PC may cast a spell or use a class ability that deals damage to multiple targets to destroy some of the zombies. Every 2 points of damage dealt by the spell or ability reduces that obstacle’s check DCs by 1
Nokazi makes a running leap, stepping on the heads of two zombies and knocking them over, clearing a path for the party to dart through!
A quick note on the mechanics: In place of attempting an aid another action, a PC may cast a spell or use a class ability that deals damage to multiple targets to destroy some of the zombies. Every 2 points of damage dealt by the spell or ability reduces that obstacle’s check DCs by 1
Rapid Shot is a feat, so I don't think that works and Blinding ray only targets a single creature. I assume they are intending AoE spells or channeling, but since bombs are a class ability and splash affects multiple targets, I'd accept that.
Save the acid (it's only one point of splash, you need two pt to move the DC.)
Sure and Ilivan blast through the zombies, already burnt by Arovandeon's bomb. The druid and his companion part the sea of undead, leaving a clear path for the party to rush through!
Ding! Next challenge.
Barreling down the hall, you see the door to (Who are you going to aid, Metella or Passad?) the guest chambers, but suddenly your keen eyes detect a trap on the floor!
On this one, only one person can try to Disable (without aids), otherwise, you just set off the trap and make Reflex saves to avoid damage.
Male Elf Slayer 4 | AC 20 T 14 FF 16 | HP 48/48 | F +5 R +8 W +4 | Init +9 | Perc +11 | Surge 9/9 | Reroll : Not Used
Passad is good enough for me. If it gets me closer to that assistant of his. ;-)
Loenor pushes his way to the front of the group to look at the lock only to see Nokazi already at work on the lock. Putting his back to the tengu's he keeps the horde off the locksmith.
Nokazi easily disables the trap and the party finds themselves at the door to Passad's chambers, but it appears barricaded!
Last challenge! I have to believe that was meant to be a STR check, rahter than a Swim check, unless your doing some sort of flipper swing to knock the door open!
Arovandeon knocks the pins out of the hinges and the door falls inward to the ground, landig with thud! Inside you see two undead shuffling across the room toward two men. One appears to be an assassin with a bloody scimitar, the other Temel Passad, a bleeding wound on his side. Passad kneels on the ground in a defensive posture, holding his wound!
Elven Mindchemist Alchemist 5 / Arcanist 1 | HP 54/54 | AC 16 | T 12 | F 14 | CMD 14 | F +6 | R +7 | W +3 | Init +6 | Perc +8 | Sense Motive +1
"Rapunzel, everyone! Forget these creatures and grab that assassin!"
Arovandeon moves past the undead (provoking an AoO from the ungrappled one) and throws a bomb at the assassin.
Bomb Touch Attack + PBS:1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 1 = 9Pretty sure that is going to miss, but even with a bad throw he's close enough to hit with splash damage. Damage:2d6 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (2, 1) + 5 + 1 = 9*Splash 7 - DC 16 Reflex for half
Arovandeon tosses a bomb, but is jostled at the last moment and his aim is off! The bomb lands in front of the assassin, splashing him, but thankfully, not the injured Passad! The assassin jerks as he is splashed by the fiery substance!
Tengu Sniper (slayer) 10 | HP 94/94 | AC 26 T 18 FF 21 CMD 32 | F+11 R+14 W+8 | Init +7 | Perc+23 SM+19 | Haste 10/10
Unable to reach the assassin, Nokazi steps forward and uses his claws and beak to clear a path. Attacking the flanking zombie first then the other if it falls.
EDIT: Immediate action to declare Studied Target since sneak attacking. Modifieres are +2 flank and -2 power attack and +1 to hit and damage for studied target after the first time sneak attack damage is taken.
